In 1964, a magazine editor had a problem. Sports Illustrated needed to fill pages during the slow winter sports season. His solution? A five-page photo spread of a model in a bikini. That one decision accidentally created a multi-million dollar empire and changed pop culture forever. 🤯
It was the 60s, and SI editor Andre Laguerre was trying to keep readers engaged when there were no major sports to cover. He asked fashion reporter Jule Campbell to throw together a feature on a beautiful model to fill the space. It was literally just filler content. No one thought it would be a big deal.
They sent a young, Berlin-born model named Babette March to Cozumel, Mexico. She wore a simple white bikini. By today’s standards, it was pretty tame. But in 1964? It was about to cause a massive stir. 🔥
The issue hit newsstands on January 20, 1964, and people lost their minds. The magazine was flooded with letters. Men were literally sending marriage proposals to Babette March. The issue sold out almost instantly. It was a total phenomenon that no one saw coming.
This wasn't even officially the "Swimsuit Issue" yet! It was just a small travel feature. But the wild success proved they were onto something huge. The bikini, which had been invented in 1946 but was still seen as scandalous, was suddenly legitimized. It went from risqué to mainstream, all thanks to one magazine cover.
Here’s the craziest part: Babette March had no idea she was starting a revolution. To her, it was just another modeling gig. She was paid about $100 a day and mostly just wanted the free trip to Mexico. 🌴
She didn’t even know she was on the cover until her agent told her. She said in an interview years later, "It was just another job. I never expected it to be big." In fact, she didn't own a copy of the iconic magazine for decades until a fan sent her one to autograph. Wild, right?
That little five-page filler piece became Sports Illustrated's most profitable issue of the year. It turned into a standalone special that generated millions in revenue and launched the careers of supermodels like Tyra Banks, Kathy Ireland, and Kate Upton. 👑
It all started because an editor needed to fill some empty pages. It’s the ultimate proof that sometimes, the most accidental ideas can become the most legendary. ⚡️
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue - Wikipedia
